Rug maker

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a rug making device, and more particularly relates to a rug making device for making fluff rugs having selectable pile depth, having a sculptured texture, having fringed borders, and the like. The disclosed rug making device is such that it may be quickly and easily adjusted to produce yarn strands of selectable length for the above purposes; several embodiments of the adjustable rug making device being disclosed.

United States Patent [191 McHale 1 RUG MAKER [76] Inventor: Myrtle B.McHale, 10662 Amber Cir., Garden Grove, Calif. 92643 22 Filed: June 5,1972 [21] Appl. No.: 259,878

[52] US. Cl. 112/9 [51 Int. Cl D051) 23/00 [58] Field of Search 112/9[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,061,612 11/1936Collingbourne 112/9 2,507,907 5/1950 Kanehl 112/9 2,126,551 8/1939l-laymaker... 112/9 1,964,607 6/1934 Tiesler 112/9 jFORElGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 280,440 4/1952 Switzerland 112/9 [11] 3,804,037 [4s] Apr-.16, 1974 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Harvey C. Nienow [5 7] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to arug making device, and more particularly relates to a rug making devicefor making fluff rugs having selectable pile depth, having a sculpturedtexture, having fringed borders, and the like. The disclosed rug makingdevice is such that it' may be quickly and easily adjusted to produceyarn strands of selectable length for the above purposes; severalembodiments of the adjustable rug making device being disclosed. 1

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures RUG MAKER BACKGROUND Many homemakers haverecently become very interested in the 'making of the so-called fluffrugs; partly because of the unusually pleasing appearance that this typeof rug can produce, and partly because of a new device for facilitatingthe making such rugs.

In the past, these fluff rugs were made by hand forming a plurality ofyarn strands into a bundle by tieing together their central portions;and then either hand sewing or hand tieing the center of the bundle to arug backing. When a plurality of such bundles are fastened sufficientlyclose together, the individual strands of yarn tend to assume an erectorientation; thus producing a soft fluff rug. By using yarns of selectedcolors, and by arranging the yarn bundle into pleasing patterns, veryattractive rugs may thus be made.

On of the disadvantages of the early fluff rug procedure describedabove, was the uneven alignment produced by an inexperienced person whenthe yarn bundles were affixed to the rug backing; but this problem wasobviated by the rug making device disclosed in C- pending US. Patentapplication Ser. No. 141,223 Rug Making Device And Method Of Use FiledMay 7, 1971 by Myrtle B. McHale. The operation ofthat device will becomeapparent from a later description to be presented in this patentapplication.

Due to the increased interest in fluff rugs aroused by the abovedisclosed rug making device, it has been found that the appearance offluff'rugs can be vastly improved by (A) selectively varying the lengthof the strands used, and (B) by varying the form of the resultant yarnconfiguration these'factors introducing a deep pile rug, a sculpturedrug, additional novel rug patterns, etc.

While the above disclosed rug making device facilitates the making offluff rugs, and permits unskilled operators to produce excellent rugs,that rug making device had the shortcoming that its use was limited torugs having a pile depth of about one inch.

OBJECTIVESAND DRAWINGS It is therefore the principal object of thepresent invention to provide an improved rug making device.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improvedrug making device that is adapted to make rugs of selectable pilethickness.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide animproved rug making device for making rugs having various yarn forms.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide animproved rug making device that is readily adjustable for yarn strandlength.

It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide animproved rug making device adapted to using a novel yarn hold down.

The attainment of the above objects and others will be realized from astudy of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings of which:

FIG. 1 shows a basic adjustable rug making device;

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of an adjustable rug making device;

FIG. 3 shows a partial cutaway view of another embodiment of theadjustable rug making device and one of the yarn forms that it canproduce.

FIG. 4 shows another partial cutaway view of a somewhat differentembodiment of the rug making device;

FIG. 5 shows a partial view of one of the adjustable rug making devicesin the expanded state.

SYNOPSIS Broadly speaking, the disclosed invention comprises a frameworkthat has a pair of bars that may be adjustably spaced apart. Theirspacing determines the length of the resultant yarn strands, which inturn determines the yarn form that produces the rug. The extreme case ofadjusting the disclosed framework facilitates the choice of yarn length,and thus provides a large variety of yarn patterns.

DESCRIPTION .Basic Rug Making Device The present invention will beunderstood from FIG. 1. Here the rug maker 10 comprises a base element11. that has a handle 12, and flares to a shoulder 13 that contains aplurality of spaced apart receptacles 15. As indicated, a pair ofelongate bars 16A and 16B are fitted into selected receptacles 15 inorder to obtain a desired spacing between the bars 16A and 16B; and, aswill be shown later, to thus obtain a desired strand length for theresultant rug.

Rug maker 10 also comprises a cap element 20 that may contain a similarplurality of space apart receptacle that receive the other ends of bars16A and 168. In this way, the support elements 11 and 20 support thebars 16 securely at any desired bar separation.

As indicated in FIG. 1, a suitable yarn 23 is wound around the bars 16Aand 16B of the rug maker 10, to produce a yarn winding 24; the wrappedyarn being snug enough to hold the resultant winding 24, but still beingloose enough to avoid bowing the bars 16. If desired, bars 16 may haveoutwardly curving sectors 26 that act to hold the winding 24 in place onthe rug making device 10.

' The now-wound rug making device is placed on a rug backing (notshown); and a sewing machine stitch 27 is sewn down the center of thewinding 24; to hold the center portion of winding 24 to the rug backing.Now, the outer portions of the winding 24 are out along the outerlongitudinal surfaces of the bars 16; cutting grooves 28 being providedfor facilitating the yarn cutting operation. Once the yarn winding 24has been cut, the rug making device 10 may be removed; leaving a yarnstrip having its center portion firmly'sewn to the rug backing.

The ends of bars 16 are preferably a fairly snug fit intothe'receptacles 15, in order that the bars will -remain in their fixedlocation during the yarn wrapping, the winding sewing, and the yarncutting operations.

Once the yarn strip has been affixed by sewing it to the rug backing,the rug making device 10 is removed; and is now rewound with anotheryarn winding and the above procedure is repeated. In this way, acompleted rug is formed by adjacent yarn strips. When so desired,selected yarn windings may use different colored yarn, and thus acolored rug pattern is produced. In those cases when the desired patterninvolves curves, the rug making device 10 is wound with only a shortyarn winding; and successive short yarn strips are positioned atsuitable angles to each other, to form a rug pattern of any desiredlength and curvature. Adjustable Rug Making Device (I) I As indicatedabove, the increased interest in fluff rugs has led to a desire for rugshaving various pile depths and different rug patterns. The first ofthese two desiderata may be achieved by providing yarn strands ofselectable length which, in turn, may be achieved by providing yarnwindings 24 having selectable diameters. To achieve this result, theprior art rug maker would have to be available in sets; wherein theindividual rug makers of the set have different spacings between theirelongate bars.

However, rather than requiring each user 'to have a complete set of rugmaking devices of graduated spacings, the present rug making device ofFIG. I is adapted to have its bars adjustable spaced apart. Thisadjustable spacing is provided by inserting the ends of the bars 16 intoselected receptacles of the base element 11 and the cap element 20.

For reasons that will be understood from a later discussion, the end ofthe bars 16 (not shown in FIG. 1) is preferably formed into asubstantially spherical globular configuration that is connected .to thebody of the bar by means of a reduced size neck portion. This bar endconfiguration permits the globular end of the bar to be snapped into orout of a suitable sized receptacle. This bar end snap-in construction(to be shown and discussed later in greater detail) has a number ofadvantages that will also'be discussed later.

The above described spacing adjustment permits the operator to changethe winding diameter, and to thus control the resultant pile depth atany location of the rug. In this way, the resultant rug may have aselectable rug pile depth over its entire area; or, alternatively, mayhave different pile depth at selected portions of the rug thus providinga sculptured rug effect, a border having a different pile depth, etc.

Adjustment (I) It has been found, for maximum operator convenience, thatthe cap element 20 of the rug making device 10 should have its overalllength limited to about 6 inches; and preferably should be as short aspossible. In order to achieve this result, cap element 20 rather thanbeing just as wide as shoulder 13, and having like plurality ofreceptacles therein may be formed in such a way that it islongitudinally telescopable; that is, its inner portion 30 can slideinto its outer portion 31', in a telescopic manner. When cap element'2lis formed in this telescopic way, its overall length may be limited toabout two-thirds of the width of the shoulder; and only two end positionreceptacles are required. Thus, the first ends of the bars 16 may bebrought closer together or farther apart by telescopically adjusting thelength of the cap element 30; and the other ends of the bars may bebrought closer together or farther apart by inserting them into suitablyspaced receptacle 15.

In order to hold the cap element 20 at the desired telescopic position,it may be provided with any suitable "detent;" one form of such a detentcomprising a plurality of spaced apart mounds or pimples 33 positionedalong the top of the inner cap end 30 these pimples being suitablyspaced to engage dimples (not shown) that are complementarily spacedapart along the inner top surface of the outer cap end 31. Detents ofthis type are easily formed; particularly if the cap element 20 is madeof plastic, metal, wood, or a similar material.

Thus, in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the rugmaking device 10 may have a shoulder width of about 6 inches whereas itscap end may have an overall length of about four inches. This means thatthe device can make a rug having a pile depth ranging from aboutone-half an inch to about 3 inches.

However, as stated previously, it is often desirable to make a rughaving a much deeper pile; and achievement of this result will beunderstood from the rug making device shown in FIG. 2.

Adjustable Rug Making Device (ll) FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view ofanother adjustable spacing rug making device 35, illustrated as being inits collapsed state, for producing a shallow pile rug. As shown in FIG.2, rug maker 35 is a frame that comprises a supporting base element 36and a supporting cap element 37 that are interconnected by a pair ofbars 38A and 388; the bars 38 being shown in their closest position.

The above result is achieved by forming both the base 36 and the cap 37into a telescoping configuration each having a longitudinal innerstructure (39and 40 respectively) and a hollow longitudinal outerstructure (41 and 42 respectively) that slides longitudinally in atelescopic manner. The innerstructures 39 and 40 are indicated to besomewhat longer than the outer structures 41 and 42; so that when thebase 36 and the cap 37 are both completely telescoped, a portion of theinner structures 39 and 40 still protrudes out of the outer structures4land 42.

As'indicated, corresponding walls of the inner and outer structures of.the base 36 and the cap 37 are pierced with suitably spaced apartreceptacles indicated in the cap 37 by reference character 44.

The spacing of the receptacles is such that at any given telescopicposition, selected receptacles of the inner structure align themselveswith selected receptacles of the outer structure. In the collapsedposition shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle alignment permits the ends ofthe bar 388 to be received by an aligned pair of receptacles thussupporting the bar 383 securely in place. Meanwhile, the exposedreceptacle of the inner structures 39 and 40 of the base 36 and the cap37 receive the ends of bar 38A; supporting it securely in place.

With the rug making device 35 in its collapsed telescope position asshown, the bars 38A and 38B are placed at their closest possiblespacing; and a yarn winding 43 may be thus positioned on the rug makingdevice 35 the yarn winding having a diameter of as little as 1 inch,thus producing a rug having a very shallow pile depth.

It will be noted that, in FIG. 2, the bars 38A and 38B are indicated tobe square or rectangular, and preferabl to having cutting grooves 45along at least one lon-.

gitudinal surface thereof. Thus, the bars 38A and 38B are identical; andmay be used interchangeably.

Rug maker 35 is indicated to have a detent mechanism illustrated ascomprising a flat spring 46, having a locking pin 47, affixed to theouter structures 41 and 42 as by means of rivets; the locking pin 47fitting into a suitably positioned locking hole (not visible in FIG. 2).Of course, other types of detent mechanisms may be used.

FIG. 2 indicates that the base 36 and the cap 37 are formed of tubularmaterial; end closures 49 being used for improved appearance andefficiency.

While it is not essential, it has been found desirable to have a handle50; and FIG. 2 shows such a handle to be attached to the outer structure41 of the base element 36. If desired, handle 50 may extend over thesmaller inner structure 39; where it will provide an additional support.

Yarn Forms FIG. 2 indicates the yarn winding 43 to have a machine stitch51 that is not centered; but is rather fairly close to one of the bars38B in this illustration. The result of the non-centered stitching maybe understood from the partial view of FIG. 3. This shows that if theyarn winding 43 is cut only along bar 38A, the yarn formslonger-than-normal strands 52 at bar 38A; and forms small loops aroundthe bar 38B.

It is obvious that the combination of the long strands 52 and the smallloops 53 produce a different yarn form; and a similar loop pattern maybe juxtaposed to take advantage of the new yarn form. The long strands52 may alternatively be used as the pile, as fringes, as tassels, etc.

Bar End Configuration Whereas, in FIG. 3, bar 38A may be lifted from thecut yarn strand 52, the bar 38B must be longitudinally withdrawn fromits encircling loops. To do this, the end of bar 388 (and, if desired,bar 38A) is snapped out of the aligned receptacles of the longitudinalstructure 42, (and, if desired, 39, 40 and 41). As illustrated in FIG.3, the bars 38 may have globular heads that hold the bars in place; andmay have a square or rectangular necks that locks the bars in thereceptacles 44. Thus, bar 388 may be freed; and then withdrawn from itsencircling loops.

Whereas FIG. 3 has shown the bars 38 and receptacles 44 to be of alocking configuration, there may be times when such a relationship isnot desired; and FIG. 4 indicates a non-locking arrangement. Here, thereceptacles 52 are indicated to be round; and the bars are indicated tohave cylindrical necks.

The advantage of this non-locking arrangement is as follows. When thebar 538 is to be free from the outer structure of the cap element 54,its ends is unsnapped; and the entire cap element 54 is then swiveled"around the other bar 53A as indicated until the cap element has beenrotated out of the way so that bar 538 may be withdrawn from itsencircling loops. Thus, the snap/swivel arrangement provides a somewhatdifferent way of freeing the bars from the yarn strip.

It should also be noted that, in FIG. 4, the inner structure isillustrated as being completely telescoped into the outer structure.Adjustment (II) As stated previously, the disclosed rug maker isadjustable to produce yarn strands of any desired length; and the mannerin which this is accomplished will be understood from FIG. 5, whichshows a pictorial partial view of the rug maker expanded, oruntelescoped, to its maximum size. Here, the cap 37 (and the base, notshown) have both been untelescoped to their greatest extent; suitablerolled lips of the base element and the cap element preventing completeseparation, if this is desired. The detent spring 46 is shown to'be inits engaged position, and a plurality of locking holes 56 are nowvisible.

In FIG. 5, the bars 38A and 38B are shown to have their maximum spacingwhich may be 8 or 9 inches or more; the bar ends being received in themost distant of the receptacles 44, and being held in the receptacles bythe previously described snap-in construction. Since the bars 38 are intheir most remote positions, they permit the operator to form thelargest possible yard winding 57 which would thus produce the longestpossible strand length.

FIG. 5 indicates that the inner and outer structures of the cap element37 maybe formed of a channel configurated material, suitable endclosures being used as shown previously.

Sewing Aid FIG. 5 indicates the formation of a machine stitch 58; thisbeing produced by a machine needle 59 and a sewing foot 60; the winding57 moving in the relative direction indicated by arrow 61. In order tofacilitate the sewing operation, a sewing aid 62 is used being held downby the operators finger, so that the tip of the sewing aid 62 depressesthe individual strands of the winding 57 just as these strands enter thesewing foot 60 to be sewn to the rug backing. In this way, an improvedmachine stitch is produced.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising:

a pair of bars adapted to be adjustably spaced apart;

a first support element having at least two spaced apart receptacles andcomprising inner and outer telescopic structures;

means for telescoping said inner structure into said outer structure foradjusting the spacing between said receptacles;

and a second support element having at least two spaced apartreceptacles;

each of said receptacles being adapted end of a said bar; 1 I the endsof said bars being positioned in said receptacles to space said barsapart by a selected distance. 2. The combination of claim 1 includingdetent means for holding said first support element in a selectedtelescopic position.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second support element has aplurality of spaced apart receptacles for receiving the ends of saidbars in accordance with the positions of said bars as established bysaid telescopic position of said first element.

4. The combination comprising: a pair of bars adapted to be adjustablyspaced apart; and first and second telescopic support elements eachhaving at leasttwo spaced apart receptacles to have a given spacing bytelescopic adjustment;

each of said receptacles being adapted to receive an end of one of saidbars;

the ends of said bars being positioned in said receptacles to space saidbars apart by a selected distance.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein both said support elementscomprise hollow longitudinal outer structure having a plurality ofspaced apart receptacles piercing one wall of said outer structure, andlongitudinal inner structure having a plurality of spaced apartreceptacles piercing a corresponding wall of said inner structure;

said inner structure being adapted to slide in a telescope manner insaid outer structure;

said receptacles of said structures being suitably spaced apart tobecome aligned with respective other said receptacles when said innerand outer structures are telescoped.

6. The combination of claim 5 including closure means for closing theends of said longitudinal structures.

to receive an 7 8 7. The combination of claim wherein both said acorresponding wall of said inner structure; inner and outer structuresare substantially the same each of said receptacles being adapted toreceive an length. end of a bar;

The combination of claim 5 wherein Said inner said receptacles of saidstructures being suitably structure is somewhat longer than said outerstructure. 5 Spaced apart to become li d i other i ceptacles when saidinner and said outer structures A rug maker Comprismg: are telescoped toa given ex'tent;

a pair of bars, having snap-in ends, adapted to be adjustably spacedpart;

a telescopic cap element having an hollow longitudi- 10 nal outerstructure having a plurality of spaced apart receptacles piercing onewall of said outer structure, and having a longitudinal inner structurehaving a plurality of spaced apart receptacles piercing a correspondingwall of said inner strucbase element in selected telescopic positions;the ends of said bars being positioned in selected said receptacles ofsaid base and cap elements to space said bars apart by a selecteddistance. 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said bars have acutting groove along one longitudinal surface thereof. said innerstructure being adapted to slide in a tele- The combmanon of 10 mcludmga handle scope manner within said outer structure; I attach! to 5a1d base elemenlta telescopic baseelement having a hollow longitudi- Thecombination 0f claim 11 wherein the ends of nal outer structure having aplurality of spaced 2() Sald bars have a nap/swivel Configuration. apartreceptacles piercing one wall of said out r 13. The combination of claim11 wherein the ends of structure, and having a longitudinal structurehavsaid bars have a snap/lock configuration. ing a plurality of spacedapart receptacles piercing detent means for holding said cap element andsaid

1. The combination comprising: a pair of bars adapted to be adjustablyspaced apart; a first support element having at least two spaced apartreceptacles and comprising inner and outer telescopic structures; meansfor telescoping said inner structure into said outer structure foradjusting the spacing between said receptacles; and a second supportelement having at least two spaced apart receptacles; each of saidreceptacles being adapted to receive an end of a said bar; the ends ofsaid bars being positioned in said receptacles to space said bars apartby a selected distance.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including detentmeans for holding said first support element in a selected telescopicposition.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second supportelement has a plurality of spaced apart receptacles for receiving theends of said bars in accordance with the positions of said bars asestablished by said telescopic position of said first element.
 4. Thecombination comprising: a pair of bars adapted to be adjustably spacedapart; and first and second telescopic support elements each having atleast two spaced apart receptacLes to have a given spacing by telescopicadjustment; each of said receptacles being adapted to receive an end ofone of said bars; the ends of said bars being positioned in saidreceptacles to space said bars apart by a selected distance.
 5. Thecombination of claim 4 wherein both said support elements comprisehollow longitudinal outer structure having a plurality of spaced apartreceptacles piercing one wall of said outer structure, and longitudinalinner structure having a plurality of spaced apart receptacles piercinga corresponding wall of said inner structure; said inner structure beingadapted to slide in a telescope manner in said outer structure; saidreceptacles of said structures being suitably spaced apart to becomealigned with respective other said receptacles when said inner and outerstructures are telescoped.
 6. The combination of claim 5 includingclosure means for closing the ends of said longitudinal structures. 7.The combination of claim 5 wherein both said inner and outer structuresare substantially the same length.
 8. The combination of claim 5 whereinsaid inner structure is somewhat longer than said outer structure.
 9. Arug maker comprising: a pair of bars, having snap-in ends, adapted to beadjustably spaced part; a telescopic cap element having an hollowlongitudinal outer structure having a plurality of spaced apartreceptacles piercing one wall of said outer structure, and having alongitudinal inner structure having a plurality of spaced apartreceptacles piercing a corresponding wall of said inner structure; saidinner structure being adapted to slide in a telescope manner within saidouter structure; a telescopic base element having a hollow longitudinalouter structure having a plurality of spaced apart receptacles piercingone wall of said outer structure, and having a longitudinal structurehaving a plurality of spaced apart receptacles piercing a correspondingwall of said inner structure; each of said receptacles being adapted toreceive an end of a bar; said receptacles of said structures beingsuitably spaced apart to become aligned with other said receptacles whensaid inner and said outer structures are telescoped to a given extent;detent means for holding said cap element and said base element inselected telescopic positions; the ends of said bars being positioned inselected said receptacles of said base and cap elements to space saidbars apart by a selected distance.
 10. The combination of claim 9wherein said bars have a cutting groove along one longitudinal surfacethereof.
 11. The combination of claim 10 including a handle attached tosaid base element.
 12. The combination of claim 11 wherein the ends ofsaid bars have a snap/swivel configuration.
 13. The combination of claim11 wherein the ends of said bars have a snap/lock configuration.